Here they are… the 13 toys that found themselves in heavy rotation around here in 2013… In alphabetical order because I can’t rank my love of these toys…

This 100% silicone Beginner Ball Gag is more comfortable than your average gag, as it sits behind the teeth. Leather strap snaps off so you can thoroughly clean the ball bit. Looks cute in your face! Buy it here.

Did you know that you can make your butt even cuter!?! This super smooth Bunny Tail Glass Butt Plug fits snugly in place. The fluffy tail is attached with a magnet that makes it very functional. You can pop the tail off to be able to see what you are doing while inserting or removing the toy. You can also pop the tail on and off to clean the toy. A genius design. Hell… pop the tail off and you can attach any of your favorite fridge magnets to the thing! (Come on, do it!) Made by Crystal Delights, my favorite glass toy maker in the whole world. Buy it here.

A bit more slim than your average insertable, silicone toy. The Charmer has four well defined G spot speed bumps! The idea is to mimic the sensation of fingers, while giving full depth of penetration with each thrust. Despite being a classic Tantus design, I have fallen in love with it again. But isn’t that how one defines a classic? Buy it here.

I say it again and again… If you have ugly panties THROW THEM OUT! I believe you should feel beautiful and panties are the first thing you put on in the morning… Of course panty beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this year my panty of choice has been Cheeky Panties. They look awesome on big butts and small butts. They are super comfortable. They give every butt a nice round look because of how they circle around the cheeks in the back. And that little V at the front of the waist line makes your hips look vavavvoomy and your tummy look tighter. Win. Win. Win. Buy ’em here.

The *new* EVI is a simple vaginal toy that brings stronger, more badass orgasms and pelvic strength – all in one awesome little package. My all time favorite toy of 2012 year. But now they have upgraded the design to have a more flexible neck. You still get that tight fit once it’s in place but the flexible neck makes it much easier to insert and remove the toy. Buy it here. Use checkout code DUCKY20 and get 20% off.

The Harmony by Fuze is unique. Smartly designed for solo and harness play. The shaft has enough curve to deliver pressure on the G spot or prostate. The silicone is super smooth. (Great for play but can be a lint collector if left out in the air for even a short time.) But what I really LOVE is the base. It has a hole that can be filled with a small vibrating bullet or during solo play pop your finger in that hole and you get awesome leverage for thrusting. And the base is also an oval curve that aligns nice with the curves of the pubic bone when harnessed. Stunning design twists, I say. Buy it here.

Never say no. Always try new things. Why do I say this? Because the Liberator Flip Ramp was never something I was excited about. Then I was sent one to review and I FELL IN LOVE! It creates subtle changes in your positioning ability that can result in lots of fun and orgasms! Try it on the floor, on the bed, bound with rope… I could go on and on. The cover unzips and washes with ease. Buy it here.

Shut up. I know the Magic Wand is on my list every year. It keeps me from becoming criminally insane. It is perfection. It will stay on my best-of list always. Buy it here.

The smoothly tapered tip on the Neo Plug make for easy, comfortable entry. Your muscles will hold on to the tight neck and the narrow anchor fits perfectly between your cheeks. A little piece of butt plug perfection. Buy it here.

For skin-on-skin play, Sliquid Silver is my favorite. But when it comes to playing with toys, silicone lubes like Sliquid Silver are not the best option. When I know toys are going to be a part of my fun, I use Sliquid H2O. Healthy, simple lube made by a company that cares about my health. Love that. Buy it here.

Oh dear, sweet Panty Play, one of the unsung heroes of the vibrator world. Shaped to press up against the whole vulva, cupping this whole responsive area- from clit to perineum. Tuck it inside your panties for hands-free fun. Rope it tight against the vulva to deliver inescapable sensation. Playful, simply and full of sensation. Made of 100% silicone. The bullet vibe pops out so you can boil or bleach the toy and have a super clean toy. Love that. Buy it here.

The king of all cock rings. The Super Soft C-Ring is stretchy yet gives a nice solid grip on the base of his cock and perineum. 100% silicone so it will last forever and is easy to clean. The fact that it is flat means it does not roll as he puts it on or takes it off, so it does not pull at his skin or body hair. The best easy-on, easy-off cock ring you’ll ever own. Looks sexy on him too! Buy it here.

Like this:

Here they are… the 10 toys that found themselves in heavy rotation around here in 2012…

EVI is a simple vaginal toy that brings stronger, more badass orgasms and pelvic strength – all in one awesome little package. My all time favorite toy of the year. Buy it here. Use checkout code DUCKY20 and get 20% off.

Acute is a classic Tantus design and for good reason. The curve of this toy is perfect for reaching your G spot. Size queens be warned tho, it’s a little on the smaller size. Buy it here.

I don’t really need to explain why the Hitachi Magic Wand is on this list do I? Or why it’s the toy of choice when the pervs (a term of endearment, I assure you!) at kink.com (nsfw) want to take a woman over the edge? It’s just the best clitoral and body massager in the world. Buy it here.

For skin-on-skin play, Sliquid Silver is my favorite. But when it comes to playing with toys, silicone lubes like Sliquid Silver are not the best option. When I know toys are going to be a part of my fun, I use Sliquid H2O. Healthy, simple lube made by a company that cares about my health. Love that. Buy it here.

There is nothing in the world like a super smooth, cool to the touch stainless steel Pure Plug. Easy, comfortable entry. Your muscles will hold on to the tight neck and the finely designed anchor fits perfectly between your cheeks. Perfect for the beginner butt player and for warming your body up for something a little bigger. Buy it here. Use checkout code DUCKY and get 10% off.

Not all rabbits are alike. And price does not always equate quality with this style of toy. But this super cute, smooth Lovehoney Happy Rabbit hits every mark for me! It features two powerful motors, one for the shaft and one for the rabbit. And personally I love the fact that the shaft does not spin like other rabbit toys do. And that it’s made of body safe silicone. I was a bit surprised by how much I like this toy! Buy it here.

I love how Tantus is taking some of their most popular toys and adding a handle to them. This takes what was a very cool toy and makes it even easier to play with alone or with a partner! It is called the Echo because the ridge of the head repeats down the shaft. Those ridges are essential speed bumps for you G spot. So cool. Buy it here.

One of the things I love about kink is how it inspires people to be creative. Color Me Kinky is one such example. Beautifully crafted leather goods. My Color Me Kinky wrist cuffs suit me perfectly in part because purple is my favorite color. You can pick from 16 different shades of leather and get a set that fits you perfectly too! Buy it here.

Like this:

One night, many years ago, a woman corners me at a bar. She was drunk. Very drunk. She knows who I am and what I do for a living. She asked me so earnestly and with much spittle, “There has GOT to be something better than Vasoline!?”

“For what?” I asked.

“SEX! Sex.”

There she was, this 20-something, beautiful woman using Vaseline as a lubricant for intercourse. That gooey, thick byproduct of gasoline? How on earth could she not know about lube? I was a little stunned. But ever the professional I kept my cool. I gave her the facts, a list of lubes, places to shop and just hoped for the best.

But the idea that people may be using Vaseline for sex play with partners still haunts me. It reaffirms the fact that I have a lot more work to do in this world.

On a similar note, I remember the first-time anal sex tale that Augusten Burroughs tells in Running With Scissors. He was young and in the moment, he confessed to using Queen Helene Hair Conditioner as anal lube. That story was touching to me because it was told through they eyes of a young person and with such honesty.

These tales tell us that if unprepared, the human animal with lube up with the crazy shit. So tell me, what is the worst things you have ever heard of people using as sexual lubricant? You can form your response in a “I had a friend once who…” or “I heard of a guy who…” format. We totally will not assume it was you. (Ha!)

Like this:

Lube is a skin protector. During sex play it cuts down on friction in ways our natural lubrication cannot. Without lube, that friction can cause microscopic burns that leave you more vulnerable to bacterial or viral infections. Using lube should be a part of every healthy person’s safer sex practices.

MISCONCEPTIONS
1) The biggest lube misconception is that a healthy, naturally wet woman does not need lube. She may be very wet, but lube is still essential.

2) The second major lube misconception is that how wet a woman is displays how turned on she is. Not true. Some women are wet when she’s not sexually excited at all. Or she may be very sexually excited but relatively dry. She may be wetter when she is ovulating. Or less wet during or after menopause. She may simply be dehydrated or on one of the many medication that dries out her eyes, mouth and vagina; especially antihistamines.